Article III. Civil Appeals Rules · Part C. Record on Appeal · Last amended 2017 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceRule 329 lets the parties or the courts fix omissions, inaccuracies, or authentication problems in the record on appeal, including by adding a certified supplement, so the record reflects what happened at trial.
Full Text of Ill. S. Ct. R. 329
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The record on appeal shall be taken as true and correct unless shown to be otherwise and
corrected in a manner permitted by this rule. Material omissions or inaccuracies or improper authentication may be corrected by stipulation of the parties or by the trial court, either before or after the record is transmitted to the reviewing court, or by the reviewing court or a judge thereof. Any controversy as to whether the record accurately discloses what occurred in the trial court shall be submitted to and settled by that court and the record made to conform to the truth. If the record is insufficient to present fully and fairly the questions involved, the requisite portions may be supplied at the cost of the appellant. If necessary, a supplement to the record may be certified and transmitted. The clerk of the circuit court shall prepare a certified supplement to the record which shall be filed in the reviewing court upon order issued pursuant to motion.
Plain-English Summary
The record on appeal is presumed accurate, but Rule 329 recognizes it won't always be complete or correct on the first try. If something material was left out, misstated, or improperly authenticated, the parties can fix it by stipulation, or ask the trial court — before or after the record goes to the reviewing court — or the reviewing court itself to correct it.
When there's a real dispute about whether the record accurately shows what happened in the trial court, that dispute goes back to the trial court to settle, and the record gets conformed to the truth. If the existing record doesn't have enough in it to present the appeal's issues completely, the missing pieces can be supplied, generally at the appellant's expense, through a certified supplement the circuit clerk prepares and files once the reviewing court orders it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can Rule 329 fix in the record on appeal?
Material omissions, inaccuracies, or improper authentication, and any real dispute about whether the record accurately reflects what happened in the trial court.
Who decides whether the record accurately shows what happened at trial?
The trial court settles any controversy over the record's accuracy and makes it conform to the truth.
Can I add missing material to the record after it's been filed?
Yes. If the record doesn't completely present the issues on appeal, the missing portions can be supplied, usually at the appellant's cost, through a certified supplement.
Who prepares a supplement to the record?
The clerk of the circuit court prepares the certified supplement, which is then filed in the reviewing court after a motion and order.
Do I need both parties to agree before correcting the record?
Not necessarily. Corrections can happen by stipulation, but also by order of the trial court or the reviewing court when the parties don't agree.
Committee Comments
(Revised May 1982) This rule is a comprehensive provision covering amendment of the record on appeal, correction of improper authentication, and the settling of any questions concerning whether the record conforms to the truth. It contains portions of former Rules 36(3) and (4). Under this sweeping provision, it will be possible to supply omissions, correct inaccuracies or improper authentication, or settle any controversy as to whether the record on appeal accurately discloses what occurred at the trial by the procedure that will most appropriately solve the particular problem. In view of the liberal terms of this paragraph, the rather elaborate provisions of former Rule 36(4), requiring that a claim as to improper authentication be raised by motion before or at the time of the filing of the brief of the party making the claim, were eliminated as no longer necessary. Unless there is some real prejudice involved, there will be no incentive for claiming improper authentication. Rule 329 was amended in 1982 to permit a single judge of the reviewing court to correct the record.
Amendment History
Amended May 28, 1982, effective July 1, 1982; amended October 14, 2005, effective January 1, 2006; amended June 22, 2017, eff. July 1, 2017.
Source & verification. Rule text, official Committee Comments, and
amendment history are reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Supreme Court Rules,
promulgated by the Supreme Court of Illinois. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
Also known as:supplement the record on appealcorrect the appellate recordrecord inaccuracy appeal Illinoiscertified supplement record